Thinktank, Birmingham

They've basically taken everything out of what was one of my favourite places as a teenager, the (free) Museum of Science and Industry on Newhall St., sacked the knowledgeable, uniformed middle-aged blokes who used to look after it, replaced them with kids who appear to be seconded from McDonalds and, worst of all, made it a very expensive day out indeed.

The original museum had charm, in the sense that some of the exhibits (e.g. the exhibition of antique automata and the VERY basic electronic game based on an ancient mechanical-switch telephone exchange) were themselves museum pieces. The ThinkTank is just a slick, interior-designer-created ripoff.

OMG I cannot believe the reviews posted here! THINKTANK IS FANTASTIC! Yes the roads are bad around birmingham, but what do you expect?

There is so much to see and do. I bought a season ticket and visited a total of 8 times in the past 12 months. My kids ages 1, 3 and 8 all love it! They have even asked for me to renew the membership as a birthday present.

We love the different levels, past, present, future and city. I found that there was plenty to keep the kids entertained and fantastic for kids with a thirst for knowledge. My little boy loves all the old machinary downstairs and the enormous steam train (which unfortunately doesn't move like it did at the old site, but at least you can get inside it now).

My daughter, who is 8 loves the presnt with all the interactive exhibits about the body of recycling etc.

NB Not all exhibts are in perfect working order, which can be a little frustrating but try not to focus on what isn't working, look at what is instead.

The city and Future zones are not quite so big or in my oppinion as interesting, but during school hollidays they often hae little extras like talks and demonstrations, which are well worth popping along to (usually).

The planetarium is great, but choose your show carefully to fit the interests of your party. I have been to about 10 different shows and I would say that they range from ok to amazing.

Watch out for the ques though. we don''t que because we have a pass but, sometimes on wet weekend during school hollidays they can get excessive and there is nothing to entertain the kids, whilst queing but at least it is warm and dry.

There is so much to be learned here, although mostly aimed at the 5-13 age group.

Oh I almost forgot, the kids area is fab. It has lockers to put your things in (though you need a pound coin, which you get back). They have messy water play , soft story area and the toy cafe and docs are good. Actually it's hard to get the kids out of this area. I missed this area the first time I came as it is hidden behind giant alphabet blocks, so look aout for it.

The cafe is good but buy. I recomend saving the money and bringing your own packed lunch as there are a few areas, especially on the city level, where you can eat.

All in all the place is not perfect but it can be a great day out for kids. Don't expect everything to be perfect. go with an open mind and take in as much as you can.

WE LOVE IT!

Although it was well signposted we had no idea we had reached it when we got there as there was nothing to say we had arrived!. An impressive building (altho not if you don't like heights!). We were concerned that it was aimed at children and so asked the front desk if it was suitable for two adults (esp given the price of £12.50 each!) - we were told we would enjoy it, especially the planetarium which was what we were mainly interested in. If I tell you that the title of planetarium display was "The Little Star That Could" you will guess the rest!! Definately for children only.

Think Tank Birmingham is a nightmare to get to, although the street signs are excellent the trip via the M6 was painful miles upon miles of roadworks. There were no directions from the carpark to the entrance so we had to guess. The entry fee to Think Tank is far too much for the quality of the exhibits. The map given to us on entry was useless. The information regarding the exhibits is insufficent and very shallow with no indepth reasons why something is made in that way or the story behind it. Not all the items that children can touch and interact with were working. Staff however were friendly and helpful. Will never visit again!

The science museum was excellent, but this used to be free at the old site.

The rest of the exhibit was tired and worn out and not working. I would not return. The site was poorly sign posted and the road very dangerous from Moor st station

Birminghams Science Museun (Think Tank)

Difficult to find and very poorly signposted from local stations with some dangerous road crossing points for young children.

A museum of two halves the lower two floors containing mainly exhibits from the old Newhall St site are by far the best however anybody who was familiar with the old museum will be surprised at the the things omitted.

The top two floors are an interactive experience with lots of audio visual exhibit. Too many of the push buttons were broken or were not working and the overall impression of quality was poor moreover the target age seemed to be the under 9s so there was little to keep young teenagers amused on these floors. The exception to this was the temporary Walking with Dinosaurs exhibition currently on loan, once that moves on I suggest omitting the top two floors.

Overall the staff were helpful although purchasing tickets took ages even though there was no queue and the museum almost empty (even on a Saturday). The gift shop is full of cheap plastic 'tat' again mainly aimed to the under 9s and has little relevence to anything in the museum or Birmingham. Entry fees are expensive (£9 adults, £7.5 children not including entry to the planetarium or Imax) Which seems very expensive compared to the free Museum and Art gallery in Victoria Square.

Thinktank is pricey for what it is, but for some reason our 4 year old had a great time in spite of being too late for the cafe and finding that the chocolates machine didn't deliver but kept our money! However we came across at least 2 parties who were disgruntled. We probably won't return, there is something tacky and worrying about it from the parents' viewpoint.

We visited on Saturday 4th October 2008.

There were some interesting activities for children to do at Thinktank in Birmingham like being filmed reading from autocue, to then watch themselves back on screen.

Overall experience we felt was poor due to the bad points mentioned and I would not return there again.

This is not a bad museum - it's housed in the spiffy Millennium Point complex. Given the small size of the museum the entry prices are high (8.50 adults, 6.50 children) so try to get some vouchers to get free child entry or half-price entry - you sometimes get these in shops in Birmingham or on the 'net. London's museum is free after all. But it does mean you can see the whole museum in a short day. The best bit is the stuff about Birmingham and its industrial history, with huge moving steam engines, old trolleybuses and cars. The top floor about space and future is fun as well and the planetarium show is good although it costs extra. The biggest disappointment was the tired state of some exhibits - quite a lot were broken and didn't work, had chipped paintwork, or were dirty. This was especially so in the under-7's area which is obviously heavily-used.

Overall it's OK, but not good value for money

It is a great day out and the IMAX and planetarium are great additions; however, I used to take my children to the Birmingham Museum and Art gallery as small children and there was a brilliant science and prehistoric exhibition on the top floor. It was hands on for the children and it was free. This while exhibition was removed after a few years apparently to be moved to the (then newly built) think tank, and I did feel robbed.

Although it is a high cost (25 quid for a family of 4) and a bit tricky to get to on foot from the city centre, it is good and I would recommend it.